98 Movies Directed by Women to Look Forward to in 2019

If 98 options look like quite a bit, the reality is it isn’t, not when in comparison with the variety of films launched general. And for this yr’s record, I’ve pulled in VOD and Netflix releases in addition to plenty of TBD and Sundance Movie Pageant titles which may not truly make their IMDb-stamped deadline. I assumed I’d make it to 100, however the additional into the listings I’m going, the smaller the manufacturing and the much less the prospect they’ll, in reality, come out within the subsequent 12 months.

Nonetheless, we wish to highlight the ladies who’re getting work as function movie administrators, and it’s good to see that lots of this crop are making their debuts in 2019. So, listed here are no less than 98 women-directed (or co-directed) fiction and nonfiction films set to open in some format this yr.

January

Communion — directed by Anna Zamecka. This Polish movie a few teenage woman taking good care of her father and autistic brother has gained quite a few pageant awards plus the European Movie Award for Greatest Documentary, and it’s been shortlisted for the Oscar. Launch date: January 4th.

Rust Creek — directed by Jen McGowan (Kelly & Cal). When a younger lady is misplaced within the Kentucky wilderness, she should survive the weather and ruthless outlaws on this IFC launch concurrently heading to theaters and VOD. Launch date: January 4th.

Loophole — directed by Jenni Ivers. This straight-to-VOD faith-based sci-fi film involving the seek for the bloodline of Judas Iscariot. Launch date: January eighth.

Grownup Life Expertise — directed by Rachel Tunnard. The brand new star of Physician Who, Jodie Whitaker, leads this British comedy, additionally written by Tunnard as she makes her function directorial debut. Launch date: January 18th.

Shut — directed by Vicky Jewson (Born of Conflict). Noomi Rapace stars because the bodyguard of a wealthy teen woman (Sophie Nelisse), with whom she’s pressured to go on the run. Launch date: January 18th (on Netflix).

Miss Bala

February

Miss Bala — directed by Catherine Hardwicke (13). This remake of the 2011 Mexican movie of the identical identify by Gerardo Naranjo stars Gina Rodriguez as an American lady who’s kidnapped in Tijuana and compelled into the drug commerce. Launch date: February 1st.

The LEGO Film: The Second Half — co-directed by Trisha Gum (head of story on The LEGO Batman Film). After working in numerous writing and manufacturing jobs for Robotic Hen and different collection and movies, together with The LEGO Batman Film, Gum makes the leap to function animation co-directing duties on this LEGO Film sequel, partnering with Trolls helmer Mike Mitchell. Launch date: February eighth.

Birds of Passage — co-directed by Cristina Gallego (producer of Embrace the Spirit). Gallego makes her function directorial debut alongside her longtime collaborator, Embrace the Spirit director Ciro Guerra. The movie follows an indigenous household that turns into concerned within the Colombian marijuana commerce, for higher and worse. Launch date: February 13th.

The Rhythm Part — directed by Reed Morano (I Assume We’re Alone Now). Based mostly on Mark Burnell’s novel of the identical identify, cinematographer-turned-director Morano’s newest function is a revenge thriller a few lady (Blake Energetic) making an attempt to uncover the reality a few aircraft crash that killed her household. Launch date: February 22nd.

Captain Marvel

March

Captain Marvel — co-directed by Anna Boden (It’s Type of a Humorous Story). Boden once more reteams together with her directing associate Ryan Fleck for Marvel’s subsequent superhero blockbuster, which stars Brie Larson because the title character. Launch date: March eighth.

The Turning — directed by Floria Sigismondi (The Runaways). After directing stellar episodes of TV for American Gods and The Handmaid’s Story, Sigismondi new function is the newest adaptation of Henry Miller’s The Flip of the Screw stars Mackenzie Davis because the governess employed to observe after two newly orphaned youngsters (Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince) in a home that could be haunted. Launch date: TBD

The Mustang — directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre. Connie Britton and Bruce Dern play reverse Matthias Schoenaerts on this drama, the director’s function debut, which can first debut at Sundance and which tells the story of a convict who’s given an opportunity at rehabilitation by way of a program that lets him practice wild horses. Launch date: March 15th.

Little

April

After — directed by Jenny Gage (All This Panic). Gage strikes from documentary to romantic drama with this adaptation of Anna Todd’s bestselling collection of books that started as One Path fan fiction. Launch date: April 12th.

Women of the Solar — directed by Eva Husson (Bang Gang). This drama, which premiered at Cannes in 2018, follows a battalion of Kurdish ladies who take again their city from extremists. Launch date: April 12th.

Excessive Life — directed by Claire Denis (Let the Sunshine In). Denis reunites with Juliette Binoche for this sci-fi drama, which debuted at TIFF, about criminals (Robert Pattinson included) despatched on an area mission in the direction of a black gap. Launch date: April 12th.

Little — directed by Tina Gordon Chism (Peeples). Chism, who additionally co-wrote the upcoming film What Males Need, delivers her sophomore directorial effort with the story of a lady given the prospect to relive a part of her youth. Launch date: April 12th.

Breakthrough — directed by Roxann Dawson (The People). Longtime TV director Dawson makes her function debut with this Christian movie based mostly on a real story of a drowned boy who was revived by means of his mom’s (Chrissy Metz) prayer. Launch date: April 17th.

Rafiki — directed by Wanuri Kahiu (Pumzi). This Cannes 2018 premiere follows two younger Kenyan who fall in love and attempt to run away collectively regardless of their relationship being taboo of their nation. Launch date: April 19th.

Might

The Third Spouse — directed by Ash Mayfair. Mayfair makes her function directorial debut with this coming-of-age drama, which gained an award at TIFF, a few Vietnamese teenager who turns into the third spouse of a rich landowner within the 1800s. Launch date: Might 15th.

A Canine’s Journey — directed by Gail Mancuso (Trendy Household). One other longtime TV veteran makes the bounce to the large display with this sequel to A Canine’s Objective. Dennis Quaid reprises his on-screen position, and Josh Gad once more voices the canine. Launch date: Might 17th.

The Solar is Additionally a Star — directed by Ry Russo-Younger (Earlier than I Fall). Based mostly on Nicola Yoon’s YA romance novel, the film stars Yara Shahidi as a teenage woman who falls in love with a boy (Charles Melton) whereas her household is within the strategy of being deported. Launch date: Might 17th.

Booksmart — directed by Olivia Wilde. Actress Olivia Wilde makes her function directorial debut with this teen comedy a few group of academically minded women who purpose to lastly let unfastened for one night time earlier than commencement. Launch date: Might 24th.

September

The Kitchen — directed by Andrea Berloff. The Oscar-nominated Straight Outta Compton screenwriter makes her directorial debut with this crime movie starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss as gangsters’ wives who take over their husbands’ work when the blokes go away to jail. Launch date: September 20th.

Abominable — directed by Jill Culton (Open Season). Culton, a co-writer on Monsters, Inc. who additionally labored on Toy Story and its first sequel, re-teams with co-directing animator Todd Wilderman (Open Season 2) for the newest function a few Yeti/Sasquatch. Launch date: September 27th.

November

Charlie’s Angels — directed by Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Good 2). Banks additionally co-stars on this newest big-screen tackle the basic TV collection. She’s considered one of quite a few Bosley characters (Patrick Stewart is one other), whereas Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska play the brand new crimefighting trio of Angels. Launch date: November 1st.

Queen & Slim — directed by Melina Matsoukas (Insecure). Matsoukas strikes up from directing music movies, together with a part of Beyonce’s Lemonade, groups with author Lena Waite (Grasp of None) for a drama about an African-American couple (Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith) who’re pulled over throughout their first date. Launch date: November 27th.

TBD

Angel of Mine — directed by Kim Farrant (Strangerland). This drama is a few lady grieving after the demise of her daughter after which believing the kid continues to be alive.

Anthropocene: The Human Epoch — co-directed by Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes). This documentary, additionally directed by Nicholas de Pencier and Edward Burtynsky, is the results of the filmmakers’ goal to report proof of man’s influence on the planet.

The Bay of Silence — directed by Paula van der Oest (Black Butterflies). This thriller a few lady accused of murdering her personal son stars Olga Kurylenko and Brian Cox.

Bergman Island — directed by Mia Hansen-Love (Issues to Come). Mia Wasikowska and Vicky Krieps star on this drama about filmmakers who journey to the place that impressed Ingmar Bergman to work on their screenplays.

Blood Heist — directed by Jenna Cavelle. James Franco co-stars on this crime movie about sisters who try a theft to finance their first film.

A Christmas Carol — co-directed by Jacqui Morris (McCullin). This animated Christmas film will focus on a personality named Carol. The voice forged consists of Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Carey Mulligan, and Daniel Kaluuya.

The Elephant Queen — co-directed by Victoria Stone (The Queen of Timber). This nature documentary a few mom elephant can also be directed by Mark Deeble and narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The right way to Construct a Woman — directed by Coky Giedroyc (Penny Dreadful). Beanie Feldstein stars on this adaption a few teen who reinvents herself and turns into a music critic in London. Emma Thompson and Chris O’Dowd co-star.

The Kindness of Strangers — directed by Lone Scherfig (An Schooling). This drama, additionally written by Scherfig, stars Zoe Kazan, Invoice Nighy, Andrea Riseborough, and Jay Baruchel, and it’s set to debut on the Berlin Movie Pageant.

The Final Factor He Needed — directed by Dee Rees (Mudbound). Anne Hathaway stars on this Joan Didion adaptation a few journalist who quits her job to grow to be an arms vendor. Ben Affleck co-stars.

My Zoe — directed by Julie Delpy (2 Days in Paris). Delpy additionally wrote and co-stars on this drama a few lady who tries to guard her daughter after an sudden tragedy.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase — directed by Katt Shea (The Rage: Carrie 2). IT breakout Sophia Lillis is the brand new Nancy Drew on this film based mostly on a few books within the basic younger detective collection.

The Nightingale — directed by Jennifer Kent. This era drama, additionally written by Kent, is about an Irish lady (Aisling Franciosi) who chases a British officer throughout Tasmania for revenge for what he did to her.

Otherhood — directed by Cindy Chupack. The longtime TV author and producer of such exhibits as Intercourse and the Metropolis and Trendy Household makes her function directorial debut with a film about suburban mothers visiting their sons in New York Metropolis. Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, and Felicity Huffman star.

Rabid — directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary). The newest from the Twisted Twins is a few lady who suffers a horrible tragedy on the best way to fulfilling her dream of turning into a well-known designer.

Relic — directed by Natalie Erika James. Emily Mortimer stars on this horror film about three generations of girls haunted by manifestations of dementia.

Somebody Nice — directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. Brittany Snow, Rosario Dawson, and Gina Rodriguez star as a trio of associates who make a journey to New York Metropolis after one among them experiences a nasty break-up.

Stargirl — directed by Julia Hart (Miss Stevens). This comedy/drama is a few homeschooled woman who shakes issues up at her uptight new highschool.

To All of the Boys I’ve Beloved Earlier than 2 (aka P.S. I Nonetheless Love You) — directed by Susan Johnson (To All of the Boys I’ve Beloved Earlier than). Netflix has confirmed a follow-up to its hit highschool rom-com To All of the Boys I’ve Liked Earlier than, although its launch date has not been decided.

Untitled Miranda July Venture — directed by Miranda July (Me and You and Everybody We Know). July’s newest, which she additionally wrote, is a singular crime drama starring Evan Rachel Wooden, Debra Winger, and Gina Rodriguez.

Warning — directed by Agata Alexander. Alexander makes her function directorial debut with this sci-fi thriller anthology that includes rising stars Mena Massoud and Lana Condor together with Alice Eve, James D’Arcy, and Alex Pettyfer.

When We Final Spoke — directed y Joanne Hock (Final Legacy). Cloris Leachman, Corbin Bernsen, and Melissa Gilbert star on this ’60s-set indie drama about two sisters being raised by their grandparents.

Honey Boy

Sundance Premieres (Theatrical Launch TBD)

Advocate — co-directed by Rachel Leah Jones (Gypsy Davy). This documentary, additionally directed by cinematographer Philippe Bellaiche, profiles Jewish-Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel, who has been representing Palestinian political prisoners for the final 50 years.

All the time in Season — directed by Jacqueline Olive. This documentary — the function directorial debut of longtime Unbiased Lens manufacturing coordinator Jacqueline Olive — follows an African-American lady looking for justice for the lynching homicide of her 17-year-old son.

American Manufacturing unit — co-directed by Julia Reichert (Seeing Pink). Three-time Oscar nominee Reichert re-teams together with her collaborator on the brief documentary The Final Truck for a follow-up function a few new manufacturing unit in Ohio the place a former GM plant as soon as stood.

Animals — directed by Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays). Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat star on this comedy/drama as younger ladies whose friendship is strained by their diverging life decisions.

Earlier than You Know It — directed by Hannah Pearl Utt (Disengaged). Utt additionally co-wrote and stars on this comedy about two sisters who be a part of their long-thought-dead mom inside a cleaning soap opera.

Blinded by the Mild — directed Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham). This British movie set within the late ’80s follows the approaching of age of a young person with a particular fondness for the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Clemency — directed by Chinonye Chukwu (alaskaLand). Alfre Woodard stars on this drama, additionally written by Chukwu, a few jail warden who begins feeling the ethical weight of finishing up execution sentences.

Soiled God — Directed by Sacha Polak (Zurich). This English-language function from the Dutch filmmaker is a few younger lady as she places her life again collectively after being severely burned by an acid assault.

The Fringe of Democracy — directed by Petra Costa (Elena). On this documentary, Costa seems at her personal polarized nation of Brazil and particularly the impeachments of presidents Dilma Rousseff and Lula da Silva.

The Farewell — directed by Lulu Wang (Posthumous). Wang additionally wrote this comedy a few Chinese language household that will get collectively to spend one final wedding ceremony with grandma, who doesn’t know she has a terminal sickness. Awkwafina and Tzi Ma star.

The Nice Hack — co-directed by Jehane Noujaim (The Sq.). Noujaim works once more with The Sq. co-director Karim Amer for this take a look at the Cambridge Analytica/Fb story and knowledge exploitation normally from the attitude of quite a lot of people.

Greener Grass — directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Daybreak Luebbe. Based mostly on the 2015 in need of the identical identify they wrote however didn’t direct, DeBoer and Luebbe now helm this suburban satire, their function debut, and in addition star as soccer mothers striving for an unreasonable degree of acceptance.

Hala — directed by Minhal Baig (1 Night time). Based mostly on her 2016 brief movie of the identical identify, Baig’s drama, which she additionally wrote, follows the approaching of age of a teenage Muslim woman (Blockers breakout Geraldine Viswanathan).

Honey Boy — directed by Alma Har’el (Bombay Seashore). Har’el strikes additional into narrative drama with this pseudo-biopic written by Shia LaBeouf about his personal childhood. LaBeouf additionally stars because the character based mostly on his personal father, whereas Lucas Hedges principally performs younger LaBeouf.

Imaginary Order — directed by Debra Eisenstadt (Earlier than the Solar Explodes). Wendi McLendon-Covey stars on this drama, additionally written by Eisenstadt, as an OCD mother within the suburbs going via a sexual, psychological, and ethical unraveling.

The Infiltrators — co-directed by Cristina Ibarra. Ibarra collaborates with Alex Rivera for this drama a few group of undocumented youth who deliberately get detained to take down the for-profit detainees from inside.

Jawline — directed by Liza Mandelup (Fangirl). This documentary is about a young person in rural Tennessee whose web fame is on the rise.

Judy & Punch — directed by Mirrah Foulkes. Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman star within the Australian filmmaker’s function directorial debut, which is about puppeteers who revive their marionette present after which expertise a horrible tragedy.

Knock Down the Home — directed by Rachel Lears (The Hand That Feeds). New political icon Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is among the topics of this documentary following a handful of Congressional hopefuls through the 2018 election.

Late Night time — directed by Nisha Ganatra (Chutney Popcorn). Following a few years directing for tv, Ganatra is again to function filmmaking for this comedy written by and starring Mindy Kaling a few late night time speak present host whose program might quickly be canceled. Emma Thompson and John Lithgow, and Amy Ryan co-star.

The Lodge — co-directed by Veronika Franz (Goodnight Mommy). Franz once more collaborates with Severin Fiala in helming this psychological thriller a few lady snowed in together with her two new stepchildren in a haunted cabin.

Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Actions — directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky (Beware the Slenderman). Oscar nominee Brodsky, who’s the kid of deaf mother and father (the themes of her movie Hear and Now), spotlights a deaf boy and his deaf grandmother in addition to the story of when Beethoven went deaf earlier than writing the title sonata.

One Baby Nation — directed by Nanfu Wang (Hooligan Sparrow) and Jialing Zhang (Complicit). After turning into a mom herself, Nanfu Wang groups with Jialing Zhang on this documentary about China’s one-child coverage and what it’s carried out to the nation.

Pahokee — co-directed by Ivete Lucas. Lucas and common collaborator Patrick Bresnan, who collectively made the award-winning brief documentary The Ship-Off, make their function directorial debut with this movie about 4 teenagers throughout their senior yr in a small city within the Florida Everglades.

Selah and the Spades — directed by Tayarisha Poe. This drama, additionally written by Poe, is a few prestigious boarding faculty and the younger lady who guidelines over its underground social circles.

Share — directed by Pippa Bianco. Based mostly on her 2015 in need of the identical identify, this function directorial debut, which Bianco additionally wrote, stars Rhianne Barreto as a teen woman who wakes as much as discover she appeared in an specific video that has gone viral.

The Sharks — directed by Lucía Garibaldi. A teenage woman comes of age and finds love on this drama set in a seashore city underneath menace of shark assaults.

Capturing the Mafia — directed by Kim Longinotto (Pink Saris). This documentary profiles Sicilian photographer Letizia Battaglia and her inventive report of the Cosa Nostra, which helped to finish their reign of organized crime.

Sister Aimee — directed by Samantha Buck (Greatest Stored Secret) and Marie Schlingmann. This drama based mostly on a real story follows America’s most well-known evangelist in 1926 as she winds up on a wild street journey to Mexico.

The Memento — directed by Joanna Hogg (Archipelago). Tilda Swinton co-stars alongside daughter Honor Swinton Byrne on this drama, additionally written by Hogg, a few movie scholar who enters a relationship with an untrustworthy man.

Them That Comply with — co-directed by Britt Poulton. Co-written and directed with Dan Madison Savage, Poulton’s function debut is a few homosexual pastor’s daughter in a forbidden relationship a deeply spiritual Appalachian group. The supporting forged consists of Olivia Colman and Walton Goggins.

To the Stars — directed by Martha Stephens (Land Ho!). This ’60s-set drama follows a shy farmer’s daughter as she turns into buddies with a reckless new woman. The supporting forged consists of Shea Whigham and Malin Akerman.

Troop Zero — directed by Bert & Bertie (Dance Camp). From the uncommon feminine directing duo of Bert & Bertie, this film stars Mckenna Grace as a younger woman in 1977 Georgia who types a makeshift scout troop for a recording for NASA’s Golden Report that was shot into area. Viola Davis co-stars in and is a producer on the movie.

Maybes

These films, a few of them 2018 pageant and overseas titles, may additionally launch within the US in 2019: Katja Gauriloff‘s Child Jane, Clea Duvall‘s Happiest Season, Ondi Timoner‘s Mapplethorpe, Céline Sciamma‘s Portrait of a Woman on Hearth, Annabel Jankel‘s Inform It to the Bees, Chanya Button‘s Vita and Virginia, and Madeleine Olnek‘s Wild Nights With Emily.